Final answer:
The main issues faced by Parliament included the enforcement of the Test Act, conflicts over financial management, religious and political power struggles, and the need to manage massive national debts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Main Problems Plaguing the Parliament
The primary issue that plagued the Parliament was the conflict over religious orthodoxy and the distribution of finances. The Test Act of 1673 was a significant point of contention, as it enforced religious conformity by restricting those not adhering to Church of England from participating in various civil and academic roles. Additionally, there were disagreements related to fiscal management, particularly regarding the adequacy of Parliamentary funds. Members of Parliament saw the personal extravagance of the monarch as a waste of public money rather than a lack of funds.
Further political and religious turmoil ensued, such as those during the Long Parliament, the English Civil War, and the Glorious Revolution, which often featured struggles for power between the king and Parliament. Issues around representation, economic policies, and enforcing imperial trade laws also contributed to the challenges faced by Parliament. The need to raise revenue to pay off massive debts, particularly after wars, was another major problem that Parliament had to address.
Historically, the opposition to a Catholic monarch stemmed from a variety of concerns, including fears of religious favoritism and undermining Protestantism, which was the dominant faith in England at the time and closely tied with national identity and political power.